By Sonny Fernandez
Manila, Philippines
For the first time in history, a Philippines former president was arrested on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Tuesday March 11.
Malacanang said former president Rodrigo Duterte is now under police custody at the Villamor Air Base.
The Presidential Communications Office in a statement confirmed the official copy of the arrest warrant was received by the International Police Organization Manila from the ICC the same day.
"Kaninang madaling araw natanggap ng Interpol Manila ang official copy ng arrest warrant mula sa International Criminal Court," the PCO said.
Duterte and entourage arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX 907 from Hong Kong, 9:20 am. Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon then served the official ICC notification of the arrest warrant to Duterte.
Duterte faces crimes against humanity over his bloody war on drugs that slaughtered around 30,000 for five years on the monitoring of Philippines human rights groups.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, meanwhile reported a total of 6,241 killed in Duterte's anti-illegal drug campaign dubbed, 'Tokhang' operations, May 2022.
Government doctors conducted a medical check-up on Duterte and assured that he is in good condition, according to PCO.
"Ang dating pangulo at ang kanyang grupo ay nasa mabuting kalagayan at sinuri ng mga doktor ng gobyerno. SInigurado na siya ay nasa maayos na kalagayan," the PCO said.
The father of a child victim of "collateral damage" brought about by extrajudicial killings alongside anti-illegal drugs operations appealed to authorities and the international community to help him and other victims ensure the swift delivery of justice.
Baylon recalled that his son, Lenin, then grade 4 pupil, was killed by stray bullets fired by three masked men, suspected to be members of Duterte Death Squad.
He narrated that " Naging biktima po ang aking anak ng mga vigilante o death squad ni Ginoong Duterte kasama po yung mga scalawag na pulis na nadamay po sa isang insidente rito ng barilan ng tatlong kalalakihan ito ay mga vigilantes samantalang yung anak ko po ay nagtitiklop po lamang ng punda ng unan at saka kurtina sa computeran. "
The tragedy happened in the afternoon of December 2, 2016 when the alleged DDS also called 'vigilantes', raided a community in Barangay 178, Camarin, Caloocan and shot dead two suspected drug pushers.
Baylon slammed Duterte for the death of his son, saying, "Nagpahayag po si Duterte nadamay daw po ang anak ko dahil ito ay collateral damage sa kanyang programang war on drugs nung 2016. Napakasakit po sa isang ama na siyam na taong gulang na anak na nag-aaral po sa elementary ay siya po ay may pangarap ding maging guro. Nung panahon po ng war on drugs, sinabi po ni Duterte na ito ay collateral damage. Collateral damage po ba ito kundi kagagawan po ito ng kanyang ginawang death squad."
Baylon said he is not totally happy with Duterte's arrest until true justice prevails for them and other families of the drug war.
Click here to see the full document: ICC Warrant of Arrest for Former President Duterte. Shared from Facebook post of FYT Media.
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